m

—
—
— — —
I Hh
. . . Confection
Long-Term Holdovers
Stay Big in Detroit
DETROIT— Business held up nicely in most
houses downtown, with the United Artists
run of "Around the World in 80 Days" scoring
320 in its sixth week.
(Average Is 100)
Adams The Teahouse of the August Moon
(MGM), 6th wk 110
Broadway Capitol The Block Legion (WB); Crime
School (WB), reissues 80
Fox— Anasfasio (20th-Fox); The Block Whip (20th-
Fox), AtU wk 140
Madison The Ten Commandments (Para),
wk 250
Michigcsn Top Secret Affair (WB); Accused of
Murder (Rep) 90
Palms Written on the Wind (U-l); Running
Target (UA), 3rd wk 100
United Artists Around the World in 80 Doys
(UA), 6th wk 320
"Anastasia' Scores 250
In Cincinnati Opening
CINCINNATI—The big news was "Anastasia,"
which reached a neat 250 at Keiths,
the largest gross in the theatre since "Guys
and Dolls." With the exception of "The Ten
Commandments," other grosses were fair.
Albee Baby Doll ( WB), 2nd wk 110
Grand The Ten Commandments (Para), 7th wk. . .200
Keiths Anastosio (20th-Fox) 250
Palace Gun for a Coward (U-l) 100
"Commandments' 12th Week
Still Tops in Cleveland
CLEVELAND — With holdovers as the
standard yardstick for popular approval, all
of the local downtown theatres, with only
one exception, played extended runs, ranging
from two weeks for "Anastasia" to 12
weeks for "Ten Commandments" and "This
Is Cinerama." During the entire 12 weeks,
"The Ten Commandments" has held top
place with the public, with 565 per cent during
the holidays as the peak score, and with
280 as the low score. "Written on the Wind"
did more business at 140 in its third week than
it did in its second week at 135 and held a
fourth week. "The Teahouse of the August
Moon" went into its eighth and final week at
the Stillman. "Anastasia" scored a strong 145
in its second week and held over.
Allen Written on the Wind (U-l), 3rd wk 140
Hippodrome Anastasia (20th-Fox), 2nd wk. . 145
Heights Art La Stroda (Trans-Lux), 5th wk 140
Ohio The Ten Commandments (Para), 12th wk..330
State Three Violent People (Para) 90
Stillman The Teahouse of the August Moon
(MGM), 7th wk 85
COLUMBUS
. .
The secretary of the Independent Theatre
Owners of Ohio and Manager Walter
Kessler of Loew's Ohio appeared before a committee
of the Ohio legislature considering a
bill to make parents financially responsible
for acts of vandalism by their children. Kessler
spoke in support of the measure .
Barbara Rush, featured in "Oh. Men! Oh.
Women!" was guest of honor at a luncheon
held at
ager Ed
the Columbus Press Club with Man-
McOlone of the Palace as host . . .
Managers Robert Sokol of Loew's Broad and
Walter Kessler of Loew's Ohio were to greet
David Susskind. producer of "Edge of the
City" on his local visit Monday (11) for
radio, press and television interviews.
Loew's Broad is scheduled to have the first
central Ohio showing of Cecil B. DeMille's
'The Ten Commandments" early in March.
Arrangements for the booking were made
in a conference of Paramount and Loew officials,
including Edward DeBerry, manager
of the Cincinnati Paramount exchange:
Ralph Buring, Paramount district advertising
representative; Martin C. Burnett,
Loew's central division manager; Sokol,
Kessler and Fred Oestreicher, Loew's publicity
manager.
"Baby Doll" moved to the Grand after
two big weeks at the Palace . . . "Anastasia"
was held for a second week at Loew's Ohio
Cabinet Corp. has installed
a Foodmobile, first in use in local driveins,
at the In-Town Auto Theatre, managed
by Lou Holleb. The junior-sized trailer dispenses
hot dogs, hamburgers, candy, coffee,
hot chocolate and soft drinks . . . Manager
Walter Kessler of Loew's Ohio was named
theatre representative on the local civic
and business committee for Brotherhood
Week.
Col. Dean Hess of Marietta, Ohio, whose
life story is told in U-I's "Battle Hymn," was
awarded the governor's plaque in recognition
of his unselfish work with Korean orphans.
Hess, unable to be in Columbus for the
presentation, was to be introduced from the
rostrum of the Ohio House of Representatives.
The Ohio legislature approved a resolution
praising Hess. World premiere of
"Battle Hymn" was held February 14 at
Marietta.
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Line at Opening of 'Doll'
Despite Catholic Ban
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO—About a score of
patrons waited in line February 6 for the
opening of "Baby Doll" at the Regent Theatre.
Michael H. Chakeres, vice-president of
Chakeres Theatres, said representatives of
several local Catholic organizations had conferred
with him about the showing. He said
they seemed to be pleased when he told them
the local theatre had revised the film's advertising
to try to eliminate the objections
to purported sexiness and had banned children
under 16 from seeing the film.
Chakeres said about 25 or 30 cards and
letters from local Catholic high school students
had been received by the theatre chain
on the two days preceding the opening of
the controversial film. He said they all were
"nice in tone."
"They said mostly that they can't come to
see 'Baby Doll,' but that we have had some
fine pictures in the past and that they hope
they can come again to see more fine pictures,"
Chakeres said.
A line at the boxoffice is not a usual event
in Springfield nowadays.
Admission until 6 p.m. is 65 cents for the
"Baby Doll" run, compared to the regular
admission of 50 cents. Evening admission for
the engagement is 90 cents, compared to
regular admission of 75 cents.
Twin Drive-In Trust Suit
Settled Out of Court
CINCINNATI—The antitrust action of the
S&S Amusement Corp. and its Twin Drive-
In against Warner Bros, and the Oakley
Drive-In, owned by Midstates Theatres, has
been settled out of court. The settlement
resulted in the Oakley and the Twin being
granted a 21-day day-and-date availability
without clearance over any other theatres.
S&S. headed by Ruben Shor, had charged
Warner Bros, and the Oakley with conspiring
to establish a monopoly in exhibition of
quality films after their first runs in downtown
theatres.
New Ann Arbor Theatre
To Be Named the Campus
ANN ARBOR, MICH.—The 1,026-seat
theatre
being constructed in the 1200 block on
South University avenue by Butterfield Theatres
will be named the Campus, according to
Gerald H. Hoag. local Butterfield manager,
who said circuit executives at Detroit had
selected the name from among those submitted
by 135 entries in a name contest.
Seven local residents selected Campus and
will receive passes ranging up to a full year
for the first prize winner.
Hoag said officials hope the new Campus
will be completed and opened early next
month.
H. H. Meyers Elected
TOLEDO—Harold H. Meyers, Maumee, formerly
an executive with Kasco Mills, has
been elected treasurer of the American Floor
Surfacing Machine Co., Toledo. He is a certified
public accountant and from 1949 to 1956
served as secretary, treasurer and manager
of Kasco MUls.
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ME-6 BOXOFFICE :: February 16, 1957